Stand for Life

– It feels good to be able to stand on my own legs again; now I stand for six to seven minutes at least once a day, says a both proud and satisfied Valter. This doesn't sound like much, perhaps, but his wife testifies as to how good it is for Valter to stand up and how much it means. But she thinks it is a bit unbelievable.

– I don't understand how he can stand this well, normally he cannot stand, says a surprised Maibritt Carlsson when Valter stands up and stretches.

Fredrik Bredberg, a physiotherapist in Nässjö, Sweden who has treated Valter, says that the goal is to activate the patient as much as possible. But it is not always easy to find solutions that are safe, functional and that activate the patient. Not counting that the aid preferably should meet all of these criteria, you also have to be prepared to change aids depending on the patient's functional ability, which can change both positively and negatively. For example, Valter's motor skills were worse for a while and transfers were managed with a patient lift, but as soon as he had regained a bit of strength, Fredrik looked for a more active aid.

Bed-ridden for months

– Many patients can be forced to lie down for months and years. Every day that they are lying without load or activity, the function of the joints, ligaments and muscles deteriorate, says Fredrik Bredberg, physiotherapist in Nässjö. Studies show that both psychological and physiological health are affected positively by standing. Physically the blood pressure, muscles, joints, as well as stomach and intestinal function, are affected.

– You yourself can imagine the difference in perspective on life from always lying down to standing up, Fredrik comments on the psychological importance.

– We tried with a walking aid first, but Valter has a tendency to lean backwards when he tries to stand or walk, says Fredrik Bredberg.

When Valter leaned backwards like that, he could not manage to keep his balance by himself. Instead, somebody else, often the Home Help aides, supported him when he tried to walk. The walking aid was then exchanged for a turning plate, which unfortunately didn't work very well.

– I also felt that it passivated Valter much too much and that the application range was too narrow. But, unfortunately, we had no alternatives at the moment, says physiotherapist Fredrik Bredberg.

Having tried with walking aid, turning plate, and walking table without success, the Home Help aides presented an ultimatum: they required an aid which spared their backs and wrists; they could not sacrifice their health in order for Valter to be more active. They wanted the patient lift back.

Wonderful to stand

But Fredrik wanted to find another solution, since Valter, with the right aid, could be much more active. Finally he found a possibility. He found an aid that he thought could be the answer for Valter and for other patients in similar situations.

– The first time he was to stand up in the RollOn, we were a bit unsure, both Valter and I, says Fredrik. But the very moment he got up on his legs and felt that he stood safely and steadily, his facial expression changed, he relaxed and smiled when he could look out over the room from his standing position, Fredrik remembers.

When Valter stands in the RollOn, the design helps to keep the legs upright and the seat frame keeps him safe, without risk of falling. It is these features that help Valter to stand by himself, without problems. Valter doesn't talk very much, since he also has aphasia as a result of his stroke. But as far as the experience of standing up in the raising support is concerned, he has only good things to say.

– It is a nice feeling, I can feel that it is good for the muscles. It is also good for the Home Help aides. They can help me up and then I stand by myself while they make the bed, for instance, Valter explains.

Valter has now been using his RollOn for several months. Fredrik still only has it on loan from Liko, since it is so new that it has not yet been put into the assortment. In order to further evaluate the function, he wants to test it on more patients.

But then the Home Help aides put their foot down.

– We refused, we said: "You cannot take it," says Ros-Marie Krantz from the Home Help in Nässjö.

– Their saying that shows what is so good with this product; it is like something between a lift and a walker, which makes it work to activate the patient and simultaneously act as an excellent work-technical aid, Fredrik Bredberg concludes.

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From the very beginning consideration for those for whom we develop our products has been our most important guiding-star. Our concept reflects our vision in our daily activity - always to improve life quality for patients and caregivers globally.